The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, says Nigeria will soon effect policy to prosecute parents who refused to enrol their children of school age in schools across the country.

Mr Adamu made this known in Abuja on Monday while addressing journalists during the 9th edition of the weekend ministerial briefing.

He said parents who sabotage the efforts of the government at reducing the number of out of school children would soon be criminalised and would be made to face the wrath of the law.

“Unless the issue of parents who refused their children going to school is made a crime, and we start jailing parents, the menace of out of school children will not be resolved.

“There are many who are still working behind culture, religion.

“So the ministry is to effect this policy so that any parent whose child of school age refuses to take them to school will be jailed,’’ he said.

Speaking on matching grant and other intervention funds for basic education in Nigeria, the minister said a total of N350 billion had been expended on the sub-sector as against N360 billion spent by the previous administration.

“In the six years preceding the Buhari Administration, between 2009 and 2014, the federal government spent about N360 billion worth of intervention on Basic Education covering textbooks, teacher professional development, construction of classrooms and library resources among others.’’

Mr Adamu added that in 2015, matching and non-conditional grants disbursements to 15 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory amounted to N68.4 billion.

He also said that in 2016, grants disbursements to 29 states and the FCT amounted to N77 billion.

According to him, in 2017 the federal government provided a total of N95 billion to 24 states and the FCT, and another N109 billion to 20 states and the FCT.

“During the four years under review, the government of President Muhammadu Buhari provided a total grant to include, Matching grants, Educational imbalance fund, Special Educational fund and Good Performance fund.

“Others are Instructional Materials funds, Teacher Professional Development Fund, as well as Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC ) Implementation and Monitoring funds across geo-political zones as attached.’’

Mr Adamu emphasised that corruption and lack of political will from state governments were among other reasons responsible for the collapse of basic education across the states.

“Having come to this painful conclusion, the Federal Government decided to deduct from source, part of the last tranche of the Paris Club refund from all the states that have not been able to access their monies from (UBEC).

“If this attitude of deliberate refusal on the part of states to provide counterpart funding for basic education continues, then the Federal Government will have no choice than to sustain its strategy of deducting counterpart funding of states percentage from source.’’

Mr Adamu added that stakeholders were awaiting the decision of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on the reduction of matching grants for state governments.

“We have already submitted proposal on the reduction of matching grants and we believe between 10 per cent and 20 per cent of the matching grant will be reduced as against the 50 per cent that states have been claiming is difficult to provide,’’ he said.

(NAN)

Source: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/320894-nigeria-to-prosecute-parents-who-refuse-to-enrol-children-in-school-minister.html?amp_markup=1

Wetin you and your government don do for people wey go school?

Nigeria doesn't have enough jail to hold all the almajari parents. Desperate times calls for desperate measures lol. At least this make parents more concerned about state of public schools.

The federal government has enough to deal with regarding the federal colleges. The state and local governments should carry their weight by using property taxes or something. Lastly the FG should stop asking stares contribute to UBEC and just tax the money then deliver grant. Providing free education just requires tax revenue.

Story for the gods.
tell this to the parents of almajiri's whom ur likes are manipulating their minds to stay relevant

It's only in Nigeria that we do the last things first and first things last and then expect we develop. How possible?

When wards that their parents sent to school are still roaming the streets yet the government haven't done anything about them. They are now after those parents who didn't sent their wards to school. How more stupid can a country be?

Hope Nigeria will also be paying the school fees

Blue3k:


Source: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/320894-nigeria-to-prosecute-parents-who-refuse-to-enrol-children-in-school-minister.html?amp_markup=1

The issue needs to be handled with tact. Religion in the North is an explosive issue and it's exploited by the political class.

The best step to take is to provide free feeding for school attendance. This works very well but one must make sure that they stay in school.

I'm not a fan of free and lamentable education. If it's 3 years of free qualitative education the State can provide, stick to that. 5year olds who attend good schools are able to read fluently. If it's only 3 or 4 years education and they can read and write fluently and can solve fractions, then very good. It's better than overstretching very scarce resources over 12 years and ending with semi literates who can barely string a statement without bullets firing

Nonsense talk, them go jst dream over night wake up in the morning thy talk nonsense,

Nice one though. but how about those that are done with school and there no job for them talk more on employment Mr Adamu

Blue3k:
Nigeria doesn't have enough jail to hold all the almajari parents. Desperate times calls for desperate measures. At least this make parents more concerned about state of public schools.

The federal government has enough to deal with regarding the federal colleges. The state and local governments should carry their weight by using property taxes or something. Lastly the FG should stop asking stares contribute to UBEC and just tax the money then deliver grant.

It is not a vote winner in the North hence a lot of politicians don't care.

I think the country should take a look at Hong Kong. Despite the fact that many can't speak English, it became a rich nation. English should be the natural language for progress in that principality but the place still became prosperous.

Rather than the North remain backward to their poor education status, perhaps provide some level of education in Hausa even if it is for 3 years. Also, a lot of technical training can be provided in Hausa. It's just a thought but may lead to them wanting it to becoming permanent

grandstar:


The issue needs to be handled with tact. Religion in the North is an explosive issue and it's exploited by the political class.

The best step to take is to provide free feeding for school attendance. This works very well but one must make sure that they stay in school.

I'm not a fan of free and lamentable education. If it's 3 years of free qualitative education the State can provide, stick to that. 5year olds who attend good schools are able to read fluently. If it's only 3 or 4 years education and they can read and write fluently and can solve fractions, then very good. It's better than overstretching very scarce resources over 12 years and ending with semi literates who can barely string a statement without bullets firing

Hasn't something like that been done ?

I have heard reports that governors practically have time " bribe " children in the north to go to school .

Spoiler alert .....it didn't work.

grandstar:


The issue needs to be handled with tact. Religion in the North is an explosive issue and it's exploited by the political class.

The best step to take is to provide free feeding for school attendance. This works very well but one must make sure that they stay in school.

I'm not a fan of free and lamentable education. If it's 3 years of free qualitative education the State can provide, stick to that. 5year olds who attend good schools are able to read fluently. If it's only 3 or 4 years education and they can read and write fluently and can solve fractions, then very good. It's better than overstretching very scarce resources over 12 years and ending with semi literates who can barely string a statement without bullets firing

Lol the polical class cant do anything about it but vote it down. They'll blame lack of funds regarding the lack of educational facilities and nothing more. Regulating the issue wont cause chaos amongst muslims. Unless you think Mohammed said dont send your kids to school in the Hadith or Koran.

The government already does school feeding program. I think the program should be expanded all grades and add breakfast.I do think the way they handle it is inefficient since the dont look for big suppliers. Each school looks for dozens of small scale vendors. The issue of payment could be brought up but I'll leave it for now.

Funding education is just about raising tax revenue. I think states and local governments can do it but they dont care to. Thats why alot of states dont contribute to UBEC. I suggest property taxes as best method of funding.

grandstar:


Rather than the North remain backward to their poor education status, perhaps provide some level of education in Hausa even if it is for 3 years. Also, a lot of technical training can be provided in Hausa. It's just a thought but may lead to them wanting it to becoming permanent

Sounds like a local issue. I dont care how they structure curriculum. They're required by law to meet up with federal governments minimum requirements. English is one if them im guessing besides its the national language.

99% of Northern parents will be in jail . Why didn't they start this before election ?. Better candidates would have won.

The Owner of this site is too lazy and selfish, he can't even maintain his site, too much bugs. You wait about 10seconds before your post gets posted or you might even get some stupid error..

Over how many years, no good update on the site...they are treating this site like BUS, as long it keeps the money coming they don't care about it.

Nigerian man will always be nigerian man.

Useless government

start from the north eg Sokoto

Please increase the prisons in the North cos the available ones don't be enough .

Okay

which school the good unaffordable or the terrible and dilapidated structures called school with little or no good teacher

where the money dey buhari?

Almagiri parents right now be like


I hope BBC hausa don pass the message

J

Nice

Should also persecute any gov official who left our local hospitals for a foreign hospital.. laws are not for the poor only.. though is good for all those almajiris whom their parents sent out to beg from us Igbos..

Liars, what has President Buhari govt. done in the last 4 years to improve public education and what does he has in plan for the next 4 years?

Awon Waray! Like say dem don provide jobs down for dem if dem finish for school

what about parents of almajiri children?

Nice concept, but we need data of 2 actualise it.

smh. Hope education will be free for those whose parents can not afford to send them to school.

What about those who have xhausted their parents resources on education and currently sitting at home or roaming the street for lack of jobs? Can they sue the government too, for not providing jobs for them after school?